The university has a strategic location, and is increasing its cooperation with leading universities in the arctic regions in Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Alaska.  At the same time, the environment is a very important, delicate asset that needs to be managed with the development of natural resources. With its focus areas, the university will play an important role here.

As a central actor in the north, UO has encountered a whole new set of development opportunities. The mining and mineral field, steel industry and the international appeal of the Barents area create prerequisites for the strengthening of economic life in Finland. Northern Fenno-Scandia is globally one of the most promising mineral areas. Utilization of the natural resources requires both more environmentally friendly processes in industry and innovative measures in environmental protection and restoration. Studies on e.g. sustainability, ethics, environmental and process engineering, and industrial ecology are becoming more and more valuable.